JP4159947B2 - Mobile phone - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention generally relates to a mobile phone, and more particularly to a clamshell type mobile phone including two housings that are foldably connected.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a clamshell type mobile phone including two housings that are foldably connected has been widely used. For example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-45123 discloses a foldable mobile communication terminal device. (Patent Document 1).

In this type of cellular phone, a display unit (including a main display unit and a sub display unit) and a receiver are generally provided in one housing, and various ICs (integrated circuits) are mounted inside the display unit. The processed substrate is accommodated. The other casing is provided with an operation button, a microphone, and the like, and a battery and the like are accommodated in addition to a substrate on which various ICs and wireless units are mounted.
JP 2001-45123 A

  Such a mobile phone is not only a function and performance, but the appearance of the mobile phone is a major factor that determines the user's willingness to purchase. For example, when a mobile phone gives an impression that it has a slim shape, the mobile phone has a large positive factor for the user.

  On the other hand, when one casing constituting the mobile phone is compared with the other casing, the other casing that accommodates a wireless unit, a battery, and the like is likely to be larger. For this reason, a mobile phone may be configured by combining housings having different sizes. However, in this case, the other casing having the larger size may give the user an impression that the cellular phone has a stubby shape as a whole.

  Also, in a mobile phone with a combination of housings of different sizes, when the mobile phone is changed from a closed state to an open state, one of the smaller housings is difficult to grasp and the mobile phone is difficult to open. Problems arise.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and to provide a mobile phone that has an excellent aesthetic appearance and can easily perform an operation of opening a housing.

A cellular phone according to the present invention is connected to a first casing formed with a first width in a predetermined direction and a first casing via a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable. And a second housing formed with a second width larger than the width of the first housing. The first casing and the second casing are exposed to the outside in a state where the first and second casings are closed, and a pair of side surfaces positioned with a first width and a second width therebetween, respectively. Including. Of the first casing and the second casing, a band-like portion is provided on the side surface only in the first casing. The side surface of the first housing has one end close to the hinge part and the other end located farthest from the hinge part. The belt-like portion extends from one end side to the other end side. The width of the strip portion decreases as it goes from one end to the other end.

According to the mobile phone configured as described above, since the band-shaped portion is provided on the side surface of the first housing, it is possible to attract the attention of the user who views the mobile phone to the band-shaped portion. As a result, the first case formed with the first width relatively smaller than the second case formed with the relatively large second width is recognized as the overall size of the mobile phone. Can be made. Moreover, a strip | belt-shaped part has the shape extended in strip | belt shape. For this reason, the impression that the whole mobile telephone is formed in the slim shape like the shape which the strip | belt-shaped part has can be given to a user. For the above reasons, the aesthetic appearance of the mobile phone can be improved. Further, when the first and second housings are opened, the user's finger is hooked on the band-like portion, so that the operation of opening the mobile phone can be easily performed.
In addition, since the belt-like portion extends over a longer distance on the side surface of the first housing, the above-described effect of improving the aesthetic appearance of the mobile phone can be obtained more greatly. Further, when the first and second housings are opened, the user's finger is caught by the belt-like portion no matter what part of the side surface of the first housing is gripped. Can always get.

  Preferably, the belt-shaped portion is provided so as to rise from the side surface. According to the mobile phone configured as described above, when the first and second housings are opened, the user's finger is easily caught on the belt-like portion. Thereby, the operation of opening the mobile phone can be performed more easily.

  Preferably, one end is provided so as to cover the hinge portion. According to the mobile phone configured as described above, the hinge portion is covered by the side surface of the first housing, and therefore it is not necessary to separately provide a cover for covering the hinge portion. Thereby, the number of parts of a mobile phone can be reduced and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  Preferably, the first casing and the belt-like portion are color-coded. According to the mobile phone configured as described above, the attention of the user who views the mobile phone can be more strongly attracted to the belt-shaped portion. This makes it easier for the user to recognize the overall size of the mobile phone with the first housing. Further, it is possible to give the user a stronger impression that the entire mobile phone is formed in a slim shape.

  Preferably, the belt-like portion is more glossy with respect to the first housing. According to the mobile phone configured as described above, the attention of the user who views the mobile phone can be more strongly attracted to the belt-shaped portion. This makes it easier for the user to recognize the overall size of the mobile phone with the first housing. Further, it is possible to give the user a stronger impression that the entire mobile phone is formed in a slim shape.

  Preferably, the belt-shaped portion is formed of a rubber member. According to the mobile phone configured as described above, when the first and second housings are opened, the user's finger is easily caught on the belt-like portion. Thereby, the operation of opening the mobile phone can be performed more easily.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a mobile phone that has an excellent aesthetic appearance and can easily perform an operation of opening a housing.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an open state of a mobile phone according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile phone in FIG. 1 viewed from the back side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cellular phone in FIG. 1 in a closed state.

  With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, the mobile phone 1 is a clamshell type mobile phone having a camera function. The mobile phone 1 includes a housing 2 and a housing 3 connected to the housing 2 via a hinge 4. As the casings 2 and 3 move so as to be angularly displaceable about the hinge 4, the shape of the mobile phone 1 changes between the open state of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the closed state of FIG. 3. Band-shaped side parts 10 are provided on the side surfaces 2 c on both sides of the housing 2.

  The casing 2 is formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape, and has a main surface 2a located on the inner side with the cellular phone 1 closed. Main surface 2 a is formed in a substantially rectangular shape having a short side extending in the direction indicated by arrow 51 and a long side extending in the direction indicated by arrow 52. Hinge 4 extends in the direction indicated by arrow 51 and is positioned at a position along the short side of main surface 2a. The casing 2 further includes a pair of side surfaces 2c that are continuous with the long sides of the main surface 2a and face each other, and a back surface 2b that is continuous with the side surfaces 2c and faces the main surface 2a. Side surface 2c extends in the direction indicated by arrow 52 in which the long side of main surface 2a extends.

  Referring to FIG. 1, a main display portion 5 is provided on the main surface 2a. The main display unit 5 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an EL (electro luminescent) display, or the like, and displays an image based on image data given through the display driver unit. In addition, a speaker 6 is provided above the main display unit 5 for use during a call.

  The housing 3 is provided with an input button group 7 including keys for inputting numbers and characters, and a function button group 8 for performing various settings / function switching in the mobile phone 1. These button groups are provided on the surface 3a of the housing 3 located inside with the cellular phone 1 closed. With the cellular phone 1 closed, the main surface 2a of the housing 2 and the surface 3a of the housing 3 face each other. Furthermore, a microphone 14 for calling is provided on the surface 3 a of the housing 3 so as to be positioned below the input button group 7.

  With reference to FIG. 2, a camera unit 21 is provided on the back surface 2 b of the housing 2 at a position close to the hinge 4. The back surface 2b is exposed to the outside with the cellular phone 1 closed. In order from the position close to the camera unit 21, a light unit 22, a sub display unit 20, and a button group 23 including shutter buttons and operation buttons for performing various operations are further provided on the back surface 2 b. Yes.

  The sub display unit 20 is configured by a liquid crystal display, an EL display, or the like. In the drawing, the displayable area of the sub display unit 20 is shown smaller than the main display unit 5 in FIG. 1, but it may be larger or the same size. The sub display unit 20 displays image data taken by the camera unit 21 given through the display driver unit, a character image for notifying time, radio wave intensity, mail reception, and the like.

  Thus, the main display unit 5 and the sub display unit 20 are provided so as to be located outside the mobile phone 1 when the mobile phone 1 is opened. The main display unit 5 is provided inside the mobile phone 1 when the mobile phone 1 is closed, and the sub display unit 20 is provided outside the mobile phone 1 in the same state.

  On the back surface 3 b of the housing 3, an antenna unit 25, a vertically movable helical unit 26, a battery unit 27 for storing a battery, and a speaker 28 for ringing a ring tone are provided. The back surface 3b is exposed to the outside with the cellular phone 1 closed.

  FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the mobile phone as seen from the arrow IV in FIG. FIG. 5 is a side view showing the mobile phone as seen from the arrow V in FIG. FIG. 6 is a side view showing the mobile phone as seen from the arrow VI in FIG. FIG. 7 is a front view showing the mobile phone as seen from the arrow VII in FIG.

  Referring to FIGS. 3 to 7, a main display unit 5, a sub display unit 20, and a camera unit 21 are attached mainly inside the housing 2, and various ICs for controlling these devices, etc. Is mounted, and a magnesium frame that supports the LCD substrate and protects the main display unit 5 and the like is accommodated. Further, mainly inside the housing 3 are accommodated a main board on which a wireless unit, various ICs, a built-in antenna, and the like are mounted, a battery stored in the battery unit 27, and the like.

  The housing 2 that accommodates these components is formed with a width B1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. The width B1 is, for example, 46 mm. The housing 3 is formed with a width B2 larger than the width B1 in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. The width B2 is 47 mm, for example. Therefore, a step is formed between the side surface 2c of the housing 2 and the side surface of the housing 3 in the state where the cellular phone 1 is closed as shown in FIG. Further, the length L in the direction indicated by the arrow 52 of the housing 3 is, for example, 93.5 mm. The thickness H1 of the housing 2 is, for example, 11.2 mm, and the thickness H2 of the housing 3 is, for example, 10.7 mm.

  The side part 10 extends in a direction indicated by an arrow 52 in which the side surface 2c of the housing 2 extends. On the other hand, the side surface 2 c of the housing 2 has one end 53 and the other end 54. One end 53 is a portion located on the side of the hinge 4 of the side surface 2c, and the other end 54 is a portion located on the opposite side of the one end 53 in the direction in which the side surface 2c extends. The side part 10 extends from the one end 53 side of the side surface 2c to the other end 54 side.

  The side part 10 is disposed substantially at the center of the side surface 2c. The length X of the side part 10 in the direction indicated by the arrow 52 is, for example, 81 mm, and the width Y of the side part 10 is, for example, 3.9 mm in the vicinity of the center in the direction indicated by the arrow 52. The side parts 10 are formed so that the width Y gradually decreases from the one end 53 toward the other end 54. The side part 10 is formed in a rounded shape at one end 53 and the other end 54.

  In the present embodiment, the side part 10 has been described as having a simple band shape, but the shape of the side part 10 is not limited to this. For example, the side part 10 may have a shape that extends while undulating from the one end 53 toward the other end 54. Further, the side part 10 may have a shape extending in a zigzag shape from the one end 53 toward the other end 54. Further, the side part 10 may have a shape that is divided into a plurality of pieces and extends from one end 53 toward the other end 54. Further, the plurality of side parts 10 may extend from one end 53 toward the other end 54 while repeating crossing each other. Furthermore, a plurality of appropriate patterns such as a round shape may be arranged on the side surface 2 c along the periphery of the side part 10. Further, the appropriate pattern may be connected to and integrated with the side part 10.

  The side part 10 is provided in a state in which the surface 10a of the side part 10 is raised from the side surface 2c of the housing 2 (see particularly FIG. 7). The side part 10 may have a concavo-convex shape on the surface 10a. Moreover, the side part 10 may have a plurality of grooves formed on the surface 10a. In the mobile phone according to the present invention, it is not an essential requirement that the surface 10 a of the side part 10 is raised more than the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. The mobile phone according to the present invention may be formed at a position where the surface 10 a of the side part 10 is recessed from the side surface 2 c of the housing 2.

  The casings 2 and 3 are formed of, for example, ABS (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) resin, and the surface thereof is coated with an appropriate color. The paint colors of the casings 2 and 3 are, for example, silver, blue, black, pink, red, yellow, green, and white. Moreover, the metal color of these colors may be sufficient. The colors of the casings 2 and 3 may be the same or different.

  The side parts 10 are made of, for example, ABS resin. The surface of the side part 10 is chrome-plated and processed to have a metallic luster. The side parts 10 are preferably coated or processed on the surface so that they are more glossy than the casings 2 and 3. The color of the side part 10 is chrome silver or the like. Further, the side part 10 may be formed of an appropriate rubber member. In this case, the color of the side part 10 is gray or the like. The color of the side part 10 may be the same as that of the casings 2 and 3, but is preferably different. In this case, among the colors mentioned as the colors of the casings 2 and 3, a color different from the casings 2 and 3 can be used as the color of the side part 10.

  FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the housing provided with the main display unit in FIG. Referring to FIG. 8, the housing 2 is constituted by cabinets 55 and 56. The cabinet 55 is located on the side where the liquid crystal surface of the sub display unit 20 is exposed, and the cabinet 56 is located on the side where the liquid crystal surface of the main display unit 5 is exposed. Grooves 58 for fitting the side parts 10 are formed on the side surfaces of the cabinets 55 and 56.

  Further, a cylindrical portion 59 constituting a part of the hinge 4 in FIG. 3 is formed at the end of the cabinet 56. A hinge component 57 having a hinge mechanism for holding the open / close position is inserted into the cylindrical portion 59. Since the side part 10 extends to the one end 53 side in FIG. 3, the side part 10 covers the hinge part 57. For this reason, it is not necessary to separately provide a cover for covering the hinge part 57.

  A cellular phone 1 according to the present invention includes a case 2 as a first case formed with a width B1 as a first width in a predetermined direction (direction shown by an arrow 51), and a hinge as a hinge portion 4 and a housing 3 as a second housing which is connected to the housing 2 through a door 4 and is formed with a width B2 as a second width larger than the width B1 in a predetermined direction. The housing 2 includes a pair of side surfaces 2c that are exposed to the outside in a state where the housings 2 and 3 are closed, and are positioned with a width B1 therebetween. The cellular phone 1 further includes a side part 10 as a band-shaped portion provided on the side surface 2c.

  The mobile phone 1 includes a housing 2, a hinge 4 provided at an end of the housing 2, and a housing 3 connected to the housing 2 via the hinge 4 so as to be opened and closed. The casing 2 faces the casing 3 in a state in which the casings 2 and 3 are closed, and has a substantially rectangular main surface 2a having a short side and a long side, and is connected to the main surface 2a and away from the hinge 4 And a side surface 2c extending in the direction. The side surface 2c is exposed to the outside with the casings 2 and 3 closed. The housing 2 is formed with a width B1 in the short side direction (direction shown by the arrow 51), and the housing 3 is formed with a width B2 larger than the width B1 in the short side direction. Furthermore, the mobile phone 1 includes a side part 10 that is provided on the side surface 2c and extends in a direction in which the side surface 2c extends.

  The side parts 10 are provided so as to rise from the side surface 2c. The side surface 2 c has one end 53 close to the hinge 4 and the other end 54 located farthest from the hinge 4. The side part 10 extends from the one end 53 side to the other end 54 side. One end 53 is provided to cover the hinge 4.

  In the present embodiment, the case where the hinge 4 is formed extending in the direction indicated by the arrow 51 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. The axis of the hinge 4 may be formed to extend in a direction orthogonal to the main surface 5, for example. In this case, the housings 2 and 3 change between an open state and a closed state by sliding each other around this axis. In the present embodiment, the main surface 5 has been described as having a short side and a long side, but the main surface 5 may have a square shape or other polygonal shape.

  According to the mobile phone 1 configured as described above, the side part 10 is provided on the side surface 2 c of the housing 2. For this reason, in the mobile phone 1 in which most of the appearance is constituted by the housings 2 and 3, the user who views the mobile phone 1 can be directed to the housing 2. As a result, the user strongly receives the overall impression of the mobile phone 1 from the casing 2 formed with a relatively small width, and thus can give the impression that the mobile phone 1 is formed with a small width. Furthermore, the step formed between the side surface 2c of the housing 2 and the side surface of the housing 3 is not worrisome.

  Further, since the side part 10 has a shape extending in the direction indicated by the arrow 52, the user who has seen the mobile phone 1 has a shape in which the mobile phone 1 is longer in the direction indicated by the arrow 52 and shorter in the direction indicated by the arrow 51. It is easy to feel when you are. For this reason, the impression that the mobile phone 1 has a slim shape can be given to the user. Further, the user's attention can be further attracted to the side part 10 depending on the color of the side part 10 and the degree of gloss. Thereby, the above-described effect can be further increased.

  Furthermore, since the side part 10 has a shape extending in the direction indicated by the arrow 52, it is possible to make the user who viewed the mobile phone 1 from the side surface 2c feel that the thickness of the housing 2 is thin. When the mobile phone 1 is closed, such an effect can be obtained not only with respect to the thickness of the casing 2 provided with the side parts 10 but also with respect to the thickness of the casing 3. For this reason, the user feels that the thickness of the entire mobile phone 1 is thin.

  When the user opens the mobile phone 1, the user usually fixes the housing 3 with one hand and grasps the side surface 2 c of the housing 2 with the other hand. At this time, since the side part 10 is provided on the side surface 2 c, the fingertip of the user who grips the side surface 2 c is caught by the side part 10. Therefore, the user can easily open the mobile phone 1 even though the mobile phone 1 is constituted by the casings 2 and 3 having different widths. Further, when the side part 10 is formed of a rubber member, or when the surface 10a of the side part 10 is formed so as to be higher than the side surface 2c, such an effect can be obtained more reliably.

  The embodiment disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all points and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

It is a perspective view which shows the open state of the mobile telephone in embodiment of this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the mobile telephone in FIG. 1 from the back side. It is a perspective view which shows the closed state of the mobile telephone in FIG. It is a top view which shows the mobile telephone seen from the arrow IV in FIG. It is a side view which shows the mobile phone seen from the arrow V in FIG. It is a side view which shows the mobile phone seen from the arrow VI in FIG. It is a front view which shows the mobile phone seen from the arrow VII in FIG. It is an exploded view of the housing | casing provided with the main display part in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  1 mobile phone, 2, 3 housing, 2a main surface, 2c side surface, 4 hinge, 10 side parts, 53 one end, 54 other end.

Claims (6)

A first housing formed with a first width in a predetermined direction;
A second housing that is connected to the first housing via a hinge portion so as to be openable and closable, and is formed with a second width that is larger than the first width in the predetermined direction;
The first casing and the second casing are exposed to the outside in a state where the first and second casings are closed, and are spaced apart from the first width and the second width, respectively. A pair of side surfaces, and
Of the first casing and the second casing, only the first casing is provided with a band-like portion on the side surface ,
The side surface of the first housing has one end close to the hinge portion and the other end located farthest from the hinge portion, and the band-shaped portion extends from the one end side to the other end side. And the width of the belt-shaped portion decreases as it goes from the one end to the other end .   The mobile phone according to claim 1, wherein the belt-like portion is provided so as to rise from the side surface. Wherein one end is provided so as to cover the hinge portion, the mobile phone according to claim 1 or 2. The mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the first casing and the belt-like portion are color-coded. The mobile phone according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , wherein the belt-like portion is more glossy than the first housing. The strip portion is formed of a rubber member, the cellular phone according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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